Drew Brees (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
New Orleans Saints great Drew Brees is very high on Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
Nix has often been compared to the former Saints quarterback for a number of reasons, including their ability to dish out short and accurate passes. It's also a natural comparison considering that Sean Payton happens to coach the Broncos and is best known for being Brees' head coach for 15 seasons (2006 through 2020).
During an interview just prior to Nix' Week 1 debut against the Seattle Seahawks, Brees spoke glowingly about the former Oregon Ducks and Auburn Tigers quarterback. Nix was arguably not only the most impressive rookie quarterback of the preseason, but the most impressive passer of them all. He finished the preseason with a 116.7 passer rating and a 76.7 % completion rate.
After an impressive preseason, Nix struggled during his actual NFL debut. Not only did the Broncos lose 26-20, Nix struggled all day to complete passes down the field, averaging just 3.3 yards per attempt while going 26-for-42 with 138 passing yards and a 47.5 passer rating. He also threw an interception with the Broncos threatening to score during the first half when the game was tied. If there were any positives from his Week 1 showing, Nix did show speed, rushing for 35 yards and a touchdown while keeping the Broncos within striking distance.
Nix holds numerous collegiate records, including most career starts (61) across five seasons and the highest single-season completion percentage (77.45%). In addition to leading the NCAA in completion percentage during his final season, he also led the nation in completions and passing touchdowns.
Brees believes Nix's wealth of experience will serve him well and give him an advantage as he goes through his rookie season.
"He steps into a situation where it's a new offense and it's the NFL," says Brees. "Developing chemistry with your team, that kind of thing. You're used to waking up, being the guy. You're used to a situation where you've got a routine and you know how to prepare and you've seen all these different defensive looks. You've seen all these different defensive pressures, right? There's just a different level of knowledge and experience that comes with that many starts and I think it just accelerates their ability to be able to step in and be a starter. I feel like that's part of the formula."
Nix is part of a highly-hyped rookie quarterback draft class that saw six quarterbacks selected within the first 12 picks. However, three of the others won't be starting right now with the Minnesota Vikings' J.J. McCarthy out for the season due to injury and the New England Patriots' Drake Maye and Atlanta Falcons' Michael Penix currently serving as backups. The only other rookies starting at quarterback are the Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels and the Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams.
However, none of those quarterbacks match Nix when it comes to actual experience and game reps. Williams – the No. 1 overall pick – started 33 games in college, while Daniels comes close at 55 starts.
"When you talk about young quarterbacks that are getting their opportunity to play in the NFL, I think you need at least 50 high-level starts," says Brees.
"Whether that comes in college or whether that comes to the NFL, what I'm saying is, if you draft a kid who only has had 20 college starts, but he's this top prospect and he's got unbelievable talent. That's great, but chances are, he's going on a team who has some holes to fill, right? There's going to be a little bit of an uphill battle. There's going to be struggles and the guy still needs about a season and a half or two before you're really going to know what you have."
While Nix obviously didn't live up to expectations in his Week 1 debut, that's to be expected considering the growing pains of being a rookie quarterback. Although Williams won his debut with the Bears, he did so largely behind the strong play of his defense while struggling just as much as Nix, going just 14-for-29 for 93 passing yards and a 55.7 passer rating. Meanwhile, Daniels lost in his debut, but he looked more efficient and composed, going 17-for-24 with 184 passing yards and a 93.1 passer rating. He also ran for 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Nix will look to live up to expectations and improve as the Broncos host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.
DJ Siddiqi
